Mayor beats 11 candidates

Sheryl Mai is flexing her muscles this weekend after romping to victory in a 12-way tussle in Whangarei.

"The first thing I'm actually going to do is move the office from upstairs to downstairs," the town's new mayor said. "It's a physical thing but it's also symbolic of me wanting to be available and accessible."

Mai promised an attitude overhaul for the council, which she said some residents found surly and disrespectful. Northern Advocate editor Craig Cooper penned an impassioned editorial this week after his 15-year-old daughter was beaten up in the central city. It became an online hit in the last days of the election. Mai agreed oafish behaviour was an issue for the town. "It's not widespread by any stretch of the imagination but it is something that people are conscious of."